Though Ortiz proved to be a step slow en route to a unanimous
decision defeat to “Uncle Creepy,” the prospect nevertheless
acquitted himself well in the cage that night, surviving a
second-round knockdown and gritting his way through a
less-than-ideal third period to hear the final bell. Ortiz has
since gone 4-1 and rides a three-fight winning streak into his
Octagon debut against 37-fight pro Jose Maria
Tome, who lost his first fight in five years when he was
knocked out by John
Lineker in August.

Will Ortiz impress in his Octagon debut or will the Brazilian
return to his winning ways?

The sambo practitioner loves to bomb his opponents with stinging
low kicks and wild shots to the head. While I think his defense and
footwork leave something to be desired, Akhmedov can nevertheless
end a fight with a single punch, especially his nasty left
hook.

The finisher will make his Octagon debut opposite “TUF: Brazil”
alum Thiago
de Oliveira Perpetuo, who posted a third-round knockout over
Leonardo Mafra Teixeira in his 2012 UFC debut but has not fought
since. Can Akhmedov keep his perfect record intact against the
Brazilian?

Call Him ‘J-Bomb’

“J-Bomb” wasted no time in taking the fight to the veteran,
shutting down Riley’s offense in the opening frame and then
battering the 16-year pro through the second stanza. However, a
bloody Riley managed to turn the tables in the third round and came
on strong to end the fight in spite of the damage to his face.

While Salas allowing Riley back into the fight was disconcerting,
the 31-year-old nevertheless walked away with a split decision to
improve his Octagon record to 2-1.

The former NCAA Div. I wrestler showed a significant improvement in
his striking this summer, and I imagine that trend will continue as
he faces Brazilian lightweight staple Thiago
Tavares. Can Salas avoid Tavares’ submission game and snatch
his second straight UFC win?

Cruickshank’s Conundrum

Daron
Cruickshank owns the tools to produce some compelling violence,
but he has struggled to find consistency in his last two
fights.

Granted, John
Makdessi and Yves Edwards
are not exactly chopped liver, but I still find myself hoping for
more out of “The Detroit Superstar.” Perhaps this is because I
witnessed his knockout of Henry
Martinez live in Seattle last year. The sound of Cruickshank’s
shin colliding with Martinez’s skull still resonates with me, as I
imagine it does with many in the crowd who fell silent for a split
second before screaming their heads off that night.

The way I see it, this type of result should not be an aberration
for Cruickshank, who possesses great dexterity with his legs and
the core strength required to use his feet in creative ways. Still,
his defense against both Makdessi and Edwards proved lacking,
though he managed to walk away from the latter confrontation with a
split decision win.

Now paired with Brazilian veteran Adriano
Martins, Cruickshank will look for his fourth UFC win in five
appearances. What type of improvements, if any, will the
28-year-old bring with him into the Octagon?

Sam Jam

After winning 11 of his first 12 fights, “The Ultimate Fighter 15”
alum rides a two-fight skid into his clash with “The Ultimate
Fighter: Brazil” graduate Godofredo
Castro. Should Sicilia earn a third straight defeat in his
meeting with “Pepe,” I think it is likely the Washingtonian
receives his walking papers.

There is no denying that Sicilia has been exciting, if not
especially technical. The brawler made his official Octagon debut
last year at “The Ultimate Fighter 15” Finale, where he knocked out
castmate Cristiano Marcelo in the second round. Sicilia’s drop to
featherweight has been less successful, however, as he suffered a
knockout to “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” winner Rony
Mariano Bezerra before dropping a unanimous decision to
Maximo
Blanco in April.

Can the hard-swinging American halt his slide and stay away from
Castro’s submissions or will the Brazilian send Sicilia packing?